Electric clock.



Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER CARRUTHERS, OF ST. JAMES, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

ELECT RIC CLOCK.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731279, dated ,J une 16, 1903.

Application filed October 10,1902. Serial No 126,(359. (No model To call whom 't may oo'wern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH ALEXANDER CARRUTHERS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at High street, St. James, in the State of Victoria,Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically Actuated and Controlled Clocks and other Time-Recording Apparatus, of which the 'following is a specfication.

My invention provides mechanism by means of which the Swing of the pendulun will cause the make and break of an electrical circuit to actuate a clock or other time-recordin g apparatus.

Figure l shows front elevation of the mechanism set in a case; Fig. 2, side View of same with part in section. Fig. 3 shows section of contact-making plate drawn to a larger scale, and Fig. a shows an alternative form of a part of the mechanism.

a represents casing of clockor other timerecordin g apparatus. lVithin the casing is hung in the ordinary manner pendulum c. This pendulum carries cylinder or weight d, that is adjusted by milled screw d', and the pendulum terminates with a soft armature e. The armature of the pendulum is arranged to Swing within the field of an electro magnet or magnets f, that have soft cores f' to be energized and denergized on the make and break of the electrical circuit, as hereinafter described.

From the casing a two brackets or arms h h project, and these carry at their ends, which are split, spring-plates h h both of which are provided with platinum contact-points at 7%. The spring-plates 7 h are adjustable into their correct position in the slots of the brackets and are held by the thumb-screws h The pendulum c carries sliding frame j, with screw-nut j' for adjusting its level, and at the end of said frame is an open boxj in which is hinged a platej the object of the construction being to cause the said plate to impinge upon and depress the spring 72? to form contactwith the spring h at the required times and to allow it on the return motion to ride over without exerting a pressure upon the spring-plate h The spring h has wire g leading to an electrical cell or battery, and the spring 7 has wire g' led to terminal r. This wire is in circuit with the electromagnet-wires (1 9 the latter being in circuit (at terminal) 7 with wire g' leading to battery. ternative to the spring-plate 7 I mayemploy a lever h, that is pivoted to bracket h' and carries weight lb a stop h being formed on the bracket to limit fall of weighted end of lever. This lever, as also the spring 7 may carry a roller h to receive the impact of the hinged plate The operation is as follows: Assume the pendulum to be in the position shown in Fig. l and moving in the direction of arrow. At this moment the hinged platej will bear upon the spring-plate h 'being stopped against the box j causing it to form contact With the spring-plate W, so conpleting the electrical circuit and energizing the electromagnet SO that it will exert an attractive force on the armature e; but before the pendulum will have moved to a position directly over the electromagnet the contact will be broken at h* by the platej passing beyond the spring-plate h and the energy given to the pendulum will carry it to its extreme position, traveling in the direction of the arrow, and the momentum thus given to it will carry it back in the opposite direction to its extreme position. The hingeplate j during this backWard travel being free of the box will pass idly over the plate 7 and the pendulum will on its return to the position (approximately) shown on Fig. 1 again be exerted forward as before.

The employ'ment ot' roller 7 will minimize friction in the pendulun action, and it will also enable a shorter contact to be made, and so reduce electrical action in the battery.

It will be seen that the electromagnets will be energized once only on the full stroke of the pendulum, so that the cell or battery will only be drawn upon at such times as the contact is made, and will thus last a very considerable time before being exhausted.

I have described the invention' as being controlled by a single electrical cell, but it will be understood that the power might be obtained from any other suitable electrical source. The cell or battery, which may be either of the wet or dry system, When employed may be placed in any convenient position, such as in a box at top' of or be- As an al- IOO neath the clock-casing, the battery-wires g g being led away to such battery in the most COHVGHGD; Inanner.

By the means above described a continuous oscillating movement of the pendulum is obtained, and from this movement the meohanism of a clock or other time-recording mechanisn can be actuated and controlled.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim is- 1. In electrical clocks and other time apparatus, a pendulum having at its base an armature, an electromagnet set beneath the said armature, a hinged plate supported directly by the pendulum, means for preventing the hin ged plate from swinging on its aXis during movement of the pendulum in one direction, spring contact-plates one of which is adapted to be depressed by said spring-plate in one direction of travel of the pendulum and to pass idly over the plate on the return movement and circuit conneetions between said spring-piates and the magnet.

2. In combination, a pendulum rod, a bracket j adjustable thereon, boxj on said bracket, a hinged plate within the box, the side of the box forming a stop to prevent the hin ged plate from swinging on its aXis during movement of the pendulum in one direction, spring-plates 7 h set beneath said hinged plate, electrical Wire connections with the spring-plates and cell or battery and an electromagnet for actuating the pendulum substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER CARRUTHERS.

XVitnesses:

A. O. SAcHsE, A. HARKER. 

